Daily News

Shortage of workers may put DisabilityCare at risk: "Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council chief executive Rod Cooke said there was a critical shortfall of training opportunities for workers entering the disability sector." Rachel Browne, Sydney Morning Herald.

Time for personal, private interests to take some pain: Garnaut: "Australia’s two decades of economic prosperity, which may be unprecedented in any developed nation’s history, has entrenched a political culture ill-equipped to cope with a coming post-boom downturn, according to ­prominent economist Ross Garnaut." Jacob Greber, Australian Financial Review.

Garnaut tells of hard change coming: "The long period of prosperity has provided a congenial environment for the entrenchment of a new political culture that elevates private over public interests and the immediate over the longer term," says, Ross Garnaut. Laura Tingle, Australian Financial Review.

Rude awakening after long boom: "The public will be shocked because it lives under the delusion that things are tough already when, in fact, much tougher times are coming. A successful transition will need a new reform agenda and that can emerge only from leaders pledged to change the political culture of the past decade." Paul Kelly, The Australian.

Where should our welfare go? "Why should our middle class expect payments that make little difference to their lives, while the people who need it most receive reduced and inadequate welfare?" Ali Winters, The Drum.

Alarm over asylum underclass: "A new underclass of 100,000 asylum seekers, living on as little as $220 a week and with no rights to work, could be created in just five years if current trends continue." Bianca Hall, Sydney Morning Herald.

Children a private and public good: "One of the most intriguing aspects of the abolition of the Baby Bonus has been the high level of public support for the measure. Surely, one may argue, there is nothing more important for any society than providing assistance so the next generation may come into the world." Greg Melleuish, The Australian.

Support groups call for more help for children caring for mentally ill parents: "While more than 2.5 million Australians care for someone with a mental illness, what is not widely known is that many of those are children caring for their parents."Sophie Scott and Gillian Bennett, ABC.

Injustice and bigotry barriers to equality: The Australian Human Rights Commission reports on "how people with a disability face problems accessing justice; whether it’s to report a crime, give evidence in court, be a witness, or get support within the complex and sometimes adversarial criminal justice system." Vanessa Mills, ABC.

Gambling ads as bad as tobacco ads: "Public health advocates have called for a ban on all gambling ads because of the harm they cause and because they target teenagers in their attempts to get people hooked." Michael Vincent, Lateline, ABC.

Wonga is watching you … how payday lenders follow your online trail: "We know that as we browse the internet, we leave behind a trail. Search results reflect our browsing history; usernames and passwords are remembered on long-forgotten websites; and personalised adverts increasingly seem to follow us around." Joe Deville, The Conversation.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates says rich should pay more taxes: "The world’s richest man has had a busy day in Canberra, lobbying Prime Minister Julia Gillard to stay committed to foreign aid, meeting the Opposition Leader and speaking at the National Press Club. " 7:30 ABC.

“Nudging” people to give could generate tens of millions for charity – new report: "Simply reminding people making out their Will that many others choose to leave a legacy to charity or including a photograph in an appeal can double or treble the numbers of people giving." Charities Aid Foundation.

Still the lucky country, but some work too many hours: "Australia has scored the unofficial title of the best address on Earth for the third year running in an OECD survey of what constitutes good living." Peter Martin, Sydney Morning Herald.

Abuse cover-ups perpetuated priestly mystique: "Celibacy has become an instrument of power, the badge of an elite clerical caste, rather than what its defenders claim it to be: a total dedication of one’s life to building the Kingdom of God." Ray Cassin, Eureka Street.

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Catholic Social Services Australia represents a national network of 52 Catholic social service organisations that provide direct support to hundreds of thousands of people in need each year on behalf of the Catholic Church. Our agencies provide a diverse range of support from assisting women and children escaping family violence, housing and homelessness support, to mental health and disability services. They also work in partnership with Indigenous people, and offer support and services to people seeking asylum and those who are refugees.